Looking for a Co-Author for YA Fantasy Series – Long-Term Collaboration

[NibMcHill]

Hey everyone,

My (well, my MC’s) name is Nib. I’ve been developing a YA fantasy world and series plot for quite a while now—deep world-building, full arc outlines, layered character development—but… I’m not a prose writer. I’m looking for a creative partner to help bring this story to life in a way it deserves and in a way that I can’t.

This is planned as a six-book series. While it’s elemental magic-based (Fire, Water, Earth, Wind, Light, Dark), the real focus is on emotion, character relationships, and human complexity. It’s not so much about flashy magic, but more about why the characters matter. I already have mock prose for the first arc to show tone and structure I am thinking (open to changes), and I’m open to shaping the rest together.

To respect your time and energy, this would start as a small paid commission to see how well we work together. If we click and love the collaboration, it can evolve into a long-term co-author partnership for the full series. I have a revenue share structure in mind, but I’d love to find someone who’s in it for the story too.

I may be protective of the core story, but I’m looking for a true collaborator: someone who wants to help shape this world and feel proud of what we build together. If you’re serious, long-term-minded, and enjoy layered fantasy with real emotional weight, I’d love to talk.

Please let me know if you’re interested, and I’ll send over the world and plot materials. I hope you’ll fall in love with the characters and their struggles like I have.
Thanks for reading!
—Nib

 

[Prince of Spires]

Hi Nib,

Good luck with finding collaborators. One thing to realize, which makes it hard to find collaborators, is that the writing part is the hard part for pretty much everyone. Ideas are cheap. I have a whole list of potential novel ideas that only keeps growing. Each story I write generates ideas for 2 more. And this goes for most authors I know. Everyone has plenty of ideas, so we don't really need to borrow someone elses.

The same goes for the financial side. Assuming it becomes a succes, why would I share my revenue with you if I've done all the hard work? It's an honest question. As for a small paid commission, a quick google search tells me ghostwriting a novel should cost somewhere between $10.000 and $25.000 for a full novel. So unless that's roughly what you had in mind, then it wouldn't really be worth the effort.

 

[TWErvin2]

I largely agree with Prince of Spires. What it sounds like you're really seeking is a ghostwriter.

Most authors have their own stories to tell. Unless there is a great financial or creative incentive, why would they collaborate on a creation that, at its core, has been already set and isn't subject to change? Wouldn't it be more enticing for them to devote their time and passion to their own creation?

Consider working on learning to write prose. Maybe do it with a smaller scale project (or two or three), not the focus series you're considering. Save that for when you're ready.

I've collaborated on two projects (back with they had Kindle Worlds), which we eventually merged into one book after KW ended. I was the "junior" partner, writing in a world with characters already established. But it is a series I'd read and enjoyed, I'd met and got along well with the author, and the series already sold well with a large fan base. Plus, the main author had experience collaborating with other authors. With that collaboration, I knew it'd be financially beneficial for me and also a positive learning experience.

You're asking a writer to commit to a six-book project, which is a major commitment of time and effort, with no guarantee of success in the end (or even completion). All the while, the time spent on the collaboration is time not spent on their own projects.

Maybe you'll connect with a writer. If you do, I hope for great success for you both. But, again, you might have to consider hiring a ghost writer or working to learn how to write prose.

 

[Diana Silver]

Welcome welcome.

As for your inquiry: myeah, that's not co-authorship, my friend. Co-authorship is when you build a world and story together and then both put effort into writing it. Someone else's pre-conceptualized deep world-building sounds more like a burden than a boon, to start a project.

The others are very kind about it, but I'mna say it a bit more bluntly: the only revenue structure that makes sense for this is a per-word renumeration of delivered text. Even if you find someone kind enough to do this for you, you should by rights be paying them for their work.

Or, if writing isn't for you, maybe you can funnel your world into a tabletop RPG instead, find some other destination where your worldbuilding can stand on its own. Or just keep building your story in your mind. Not all storycraft is meant for serialization in book-form. If you enjoy what you're doing, keep doing it.

 

[Super Fantasy]

I can help you, and for free as well.
If you have any specific questions or plot planning/outlines and such message me on here.